High-current motor-drive ICs for both brushed DC and bipolar stepper motors

Industrial semiconductor expert STMicroelectronics launched its first two STSPIN9 devices as part its new high-current motor-drive series, specifically designed for high-end industrial applications as well as home and professional appliances. With PWM control logic and a 58V power stage, the 4.5A STSPIN948 and 5.0A STSPIN958 are ideal for driving brushed DC motors and bipolar stepper motors. These ICs also have system protection and two operational amplifiers for current sensing. They simplify the bill of materials while providing flexibility and scalability. With the STSPIN948 IC, developers have the flexibility to drive multiple motors with different ratings and configurations. The IC features two full bridges that can be configured to work in various modes and offers five different modes of operation, including current control based on PWM with fixed off-time or a programmable threshold. The IC has a maximum current rating of 4.5A and comes in a compact 7mm x 7mm VQFPN48 package. The STSPIN958 is equipped with a single full bridge, which can be adjusted to operate two unidirectional motors, a bidirectional brushed DC motor, or a higher-current unidirectional motor through parallelizing the outputs. This IC offers a range of seven distinct driving methods, including fixed off-time and programmable current control options, as well as dual half-bridge, single full-bridg...